ISEKAI? More like I See Crap!-Chapter 63: Promises and Pacts ( )

Ellyn held onto Hazuki’s sleeve.

"Uncle..."

Hazuki raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm?"

Ellyn looked at him.

"You won’t forget about me, right?"

Hazuki snorted.

"Huh? Do you think I can even if I wanted to?"

Ellyn blinked.

"What do you mean?"

Hazuki lifted his hand, wiggling his fingers.

"THIS RING! THIS CURSE RING!"

Ellyn giggled.

"Uncle... this is a blessing."

Hazuki grumbled.

"Yeah, yeah... whatever..."

Ellyn smiled playfully.

"Like I said before... once I turn adult, you’ll be lucky."

Hazuki froze.

"Oi... don’t say things that can be misunderstood!!!"

Ellyn tilted her head innocently.

"Hmmm? What do you mean?"

Hazuki felt a headache coming.

This damn catgirl...

"Uncle?"

Hazuki yawned, stretching his arms.

"Hmm?"

Ellyn looked at him.

"Promise me..."

Hazuki groaned.

"Again?! Your pinky promise before already got me into this mess!"

Ellyn smirked.

"Mess? More like a blessing—a young wife in eight more years, beautiful, all yours, faithful, can’t cheat..."

Hazuki squinted.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever... What do you want me to promise this time?"

Ellyn gripped his sleeve slightly.

"Promise to take care of yourself."

Hazuki blinked, surprised by the sincerity in her voice.

"Before we get married."

Hazuki sighed.

"Haaa... fine..."

Ellyn held up her pinky.

"Promise?"

Hazuki rolled his eyes, but smiled slightly.

"Yes, promise."

Their pinkies touched.

The sacred pinky oath—sealed once more.

But this time—Hazuki felt like it wasn’t just another joke. Maybe, just maybe—this promise actually mattered.

Hazuki sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Damn... what am I gonna do while waiting for you to turn adult...?"

Ellyn grinned mischievously.

"Being faithful?"

Hazuki snorted.

"Me? A guy? Who’s never even had a girlfriend?"

Ellyn smiled, tilting her head.

"Yes. But you do have a future wife."

She tapped her pinky ring.

"A confirmed one."

Hazuki froze.

Then—

"UGH!!! STOP SAYING IT LIKE THAT!!!"

Ellyn just giggled, tail swaying happily.

The curse—no, blessing—was real.

Hazuki stopped in front of the restaurant, stretching his shoulders.

"Alright, we’re here. Now, climb down already. You’re heavy."

Ellyn pouted, crossing her arms.

"Hmmm? I’m not! I’m still a kid!"

Hazuki raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

Ellyn nodded firmly.

"Yes."

Hazuki smirked.

"Whatever... Let’s go eat."

Ellyn hopped off his shoulders, fixing her dress.

Then—

"Your treat as usual, right?"

Hazuki rolled his eyes.

"Yes, yes... It’s not like I’m gonna ask you to pay anyway."

Ellyn grinned, linking her hands behind her back.

"Good. Then I’ll order a lot."

Hazuki froze.

"Oi—!"

Too late. Ellyn was already skipping inside.

As they ate their meal, Hazuki suddenly spoke up.

"Ellyn..."

Ellyn looked up, chewing.

"Yes?"

Hazuki put down his fork, staring at her seriously.

"Don’t grow up to be full fur. Like the other beastkin."

Ellyn paused.

"Hmmm??"

Hazuki pointed at his pinky ring.

"If you do... cancel the Pinky Promise Oath."

Ellyn blinked.

Then—she snorted, trying not to laugh.

"Uncle, I’m not going to grow full fur."

"Huh? How can you guarantee it?"

Ellyn tilted her head.

"Didn’t you notice? Beastkin who grow full fur start back when they’re babies."

She pointed at herself.

"Look at me. Do you see any fur on me except my tail and ears?"

Hazuki leaned forward, inspecting her closely.

Then—

"...Who knows. Maybe it’s delayed."

Ellyn slammed her hands on the table.

"IT DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY, UNCLE!!!"

The entire restaurant turned to look at them.

Hazuki sipped his ale casually.

"...I’m just saying. I’d like to confirm these things early."

Ellyn groaned, rubbing her forehead.

"I swear you worry about the weirdest things..."

Hazuki chewed on his meat, nodding to himself.

Then—

"You should grow beautiful like the catgirl in my dream before."

Ellyn paused, fork halfway to her mouth.

"...Huh?"

Hazuki grinned, pointing his thumb at himself. freēwēbnovel.com

"Oh~ yeah, I had this weird dream when I was knocked out. There was this place—somewhere beautiful. With a river between the open field."

Ellyn slowly put her fork down.

"Uh-huh...?"

"And I saw a group of stunning women calling out to me from across a river."

Ellyn’s ears twitched.

"...And?"

Hazuki leaned back, sighing dramatically.

"I was this close to going to them—but then! This beautiful catgirl pulled me away before I could cross."

Ellyn froze, gripping her dress under the table.

Hazuki smirked.

"She was HOT!"

Ellyn lowered her gaze, remaining silent.

Because—she knew.

That "hot" catgirl...was her.

She had entered Hazuki’s consciousness through their oath, preventing him from accidentally dying like an idiot.

But she wasn’t going to tell him that.

No way.

She just stabbed her meat aggressively and took a big bite.

Hazuki raised an eyebrow.

"Hmmm? Why do you look irritated?"

Ellyn chewed harder.

"...No reason."

Hazuki just shrugged.

"Anyway, I hope you grow up to be like her. That’d be great."

Ellyn chewed her food slowly, forcing herself to stay quiet.

Inside her mind—

"If only Uncle knew..."

The "hot" catgirl he dreamed about...was her real self.

Right now, she was still physically 10.

But her true form—the one sealed by her bloodline’s power—was already 16.

And by the time the years passed...

She’d grow into exactly the kind of beautiful catfolk Hazuki liked.

Ellyn felt warmth rise to her cheeks.

She quickly covered her mouth, pretending to take a sip of juice—hiding her growing smile.

"He has no idea... but one day, he’ll see."

Hazuki noticed her expression.

"Oi... why are you smiling like that?"

Ellyn quickly waved him off.

"Nothing! Just enjoying the food~"

Hazuki shrugged.

"Weird catgirl..."

Ellyn giggled softly.

If only he knew what was waiting for him in the future.

"By the way, Uncle."

Hazuki chewed on his meat.

"Hmm?"

"Me and my mother will probably be in this town for another two or three days. So maybe I can teach you something before we leave."

Hazuki nodded.

"Oh, okay. Sounds good."

Ellyn smirked.

"By the way, Uncle."

Hazuki paused mid-bite.

"Huh?"

Ellyn grinned playfully.

"You’re not going to sleep in the stable tonight."

Hazuki frowned.

"Eh? Then where am I sleeping?"

Ellyn smiled sweetly.

"At my house."

Hazuki choked on his food.

"HELL NO!!!"

Ellyn pouted.

"If you don’t want to sleep inside, just sleep on the veranda."

Hazuki blinked.

Then—

"Oh. That’s actually nice."

Ellyn grinned.

"Okay. It’s settled then."

Hazuki narrowed his eyes.

"Wait... why do I feel like I just got tricked?"

Hazuki sighed, rubbing his forehead.

This catgirl...

Hazuki leaned back in his chair, quietly watching Ellyn enjoy her meal.

She chewed happily, tail swaying as she took another bite.

For some reason—

He smiled.

But then—

A thought crossed his mind.

"When Ellyn leaves... what happens to me?"

Would he feel free?

Would he feel happy?

Would he finally have his "freedom?"

Or—

Would he feel lonely?

Hazuki frowned slightly, staring at his half-empty mug of ale.

This was stupid.

Why was he even thinking about this?

It’s not like he needed her around.

Right?

"Uncle?"

Ellyn’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Huh?"

"You spaced out. What’s wrong?"

Hazuki blinked, then forced a grin.

"Nothing. Just thinking."

Ellyn tilted her head.

"Thinking about what?"

"...Nothing important."

Ellyn stared at him for a moment, then smiled softly.

"Okay~ But if something’s bothering you, just tell me, alright?"

Hazuki snorted, ruffling her hair.

"Yeah, yeah. Eat your food."

Ellyn giggled and went back to eating.

But Hazuki—

Couldn’t shake the strange feeling growing inside him.

And for the first time in a long while—

He wondered if "freedom" was really what he wanted.

( End Of Chapter )